AUBURN, Ala.- As soon as Kris Bryant’s sharp throw across the slick infield hit Anthony Rizzo’s glove, 108 years of frustration was over; the Chicago Cubs were world champions.

While celebrations were going on in Chicago and Cleveland, the toilet paper was going into the Toomer’s Corner Oak. Not only for the Cubs, but for one of their players who was playing in his last major league game.

That player also donned an Auburn jersey in the late 90s. That player was David Ross.

Ross cemented his legacy at Auburn when he hit a walkoff home run in the 1997 NCAA Regional against Florida State in his home town of Tallahassee. The next day, Tim Hudson pitched a gem to send the Tigers to the College World Series.

Wednesday night continued his flare for the dramatics by hitting a home run in Game Seven of the World Series. When he deposited the 1-2 pitch from Andrew Miller over the centerfield wall, he became the oldest player (39) to hit a home run in Game Seven of a World Series.

While Ross was doing a postgame interview, his teammates swooped him up and carried him off the field. Jeff Shearer of Auburn Athletics said Thursday morning, he wondered if we should strive to do such a tremendous job where our co-workers will carry us out of work on our last day.

Shearer said the rolling of the trees is a testament to the brand of the Cubs and to the role Auburn played in Ross’ life.

Shearer said the university is extremely proud of Ross for all he has done in his career.

“He’s been an Auburn person through and through,” Shearer said. “He and Tim Hudson and their families are here frequently. Tim of course lives here in Auburn and David in Tallahassee, but their families vacation together, they’ll take trips road trips to see Auburn play big football games.”

Ross is one of nine former Auburn baseball players to win a World Series, and he is one of 47 to play Major League Baseball.